This cutting-edge, applied book highlights the relevance of sociology by including a diverse collection of theories, research, and "lived experiences" that accurately mirror the diversity in society itself. The author's vivid, applied, personal writing style engages students, and activates compelling everyday examples that make sociology particularly relevant to today's diverse students. SOCIOLOGY IN OUR TIMES is noted for its especially strong integration of engaging "Lived Experiences" - extended examples that focus on various issues to illustrate chapter coverage. These extended examples are introduced with the vignette that opens each chapter and are then carried throughout the chapter in various boxes, features, and exercises. Kendall's text is acclaimed in the field for being the first textbook to integrate race, class, and gender issues, and for its thorough presentation of sociological theory, which includes diverse theoretical viewpoints such as feminist and postmodernist theory. Kendall shows students that sociology involves important questions and issues that they confront both personally and vicariously.

Benefits:

NEW! Based on feedback from reviewers and adopters alike, Diana Kendall has switched the stratification chapters so that "Social Class in the United States" (Chapter 8) now appears before "Global Stratification" (Chapter 9).

The text includes thorough coverage of sociological theory, including diverse theoretical viewpoints such as feminist and postmodernist theory.

The Lived Experiences combined with such features as the "Sociology and Everyday Life" and "You Can Make a Difference" boxes focus students' attention on various social issues in a highly accessible, engaging manner to illustrate concepts covered in the chapter and how sociology is applicable to their lives.

Concept Tables categorize or contrast the major theories on the specific topics presented in the chapter.

"Sociology in Everyday Life" boxes follow each Lived Experience opening vignette and challenge students to question many of the basic assumptions they may hold about the various facets of society by posting True/False questions with answers on the following page.

"Sociology in Global Perspective" boxes emphasize the importance of having a global perspective and help students focus on the implications of global topics such as the global reach of U.S.-based credit card companies (Chapter 1), the relationship between poverty and civil war (Chapter 9), and how transnational companies with headquarters in the United States serve as a lightning rod for worldwide reactions to U.S. government policies and to political and religious sentiment directed at the United States (Chapter 13).

"Sociology and Social Policy" boxes help students to understand the connection between sociology and social policy issues within society (for example, Chapter 16, The Ongoing Debate over School Vouchers).

"You Can Make a Difference" boxes provide concrete ideas on how students can periodically effect social change regarding the primary focus in each chapter (for example, Chapter 20, Recycling for Tomorrow).

End-of-chapter Summaries in a question-and-answer format provide a built-in review that reinforces important concepts and issues discussed in each chapter.

The most recent census data is incorporated in the text in the Census Profiles features. These features help students understand the importance of the census data.

NEW! New to this edition are the "Framing [topic] in the Media" boxes. These new boxes show how the media frames various sociological issues, with a refined take on the Changing Times: Media and Technology boxes (which the Framing boxes replace) that is more interesting and involves a more unique approach to media than that taken by other texts. In Chapter 5, for instance, a new Framing the Media box discusses how the media's portrayals of the homeless influence our understanding of the larger issues surrounding homelessness in the United States. This increased emphasis on media reflects what students are seeing around them in their everyday lives.

NEW! The Sixth Edition is now offered to students with access to SociologyNow, Thomson Wadsworth's exciting new online product that helps students succeed in your Introductory Sociology course. This unmatched resource and the text were developed in concert, to enhance one another and provide students with a seamless, integrated learning system. Throughout each chapter, students will see cross-references that direct them to the corresponding content in SociologyNow. SociologyNow provides students with a study plan based on a comprehensive assessment program, tailored to the student's individual needs. The personalized study plan provides students with a road map to interactive exercises, videos, and other resources to help them master sociology content, and maximize study time. After the study plan has been reviewed, students can then take a post-test to monitor their progress in learning the chapter concepts. Instructors are encouraged to bundle this product for their students.

NEW! New chapter opening "Lived Experiences" include how saddened a journalist was by the suicide of a person he knew, leading into the text's discussion of how sociological theories and research can help us understand topics such as the seemingly individualistic act of taking one's own life (Chapter 2, Sociological ResearchMethods) and how the use of prepackaged TV news financed by the U.S. government and not acknowledged to media audiences as being a paid advertisement intensifies the debate over the relationship between politics and the media in this country. (Chapter 14, "Politics and Government in Global Perspective").

NEW! The sixth edition includes a number of new boxes such as new "Sociology in Global Perspective" boxes in Chapters 7 "The Global Reach of Russian Organized Crime" and the new "Sociology and Social Policy" boxes in Chapters 4 and 15, "Who Should Pay for Childcare?" and "Should the U.S. Constitution be Amended to Define 'Marriage'?"

NEW! A timely subsection on the opportunities and challenges in community colleges, which highlights the issues relevant to this growing student population.

NEW! Four additional concept tables were added to the text in response to reviewers' comments. These insightful tables categorize and contrast the major theories on the specific topics presented in the chapter.

Vivid chapter opening vignettes introduce a sociological issue (e.g., credit card debt, suicide, domestic abuse) that is referred to throughout the chapter in the various features, boxes, and exercises. This extended example enables the student to truly grasp the topic being discussed and to apply the concepts within the chapter to that particular social issue.

Race, class, gender, and age are emphasized throughout the text and in pedagogical features; each chapter incorporates the most recent scholarly research, especially by women and people of color.

This cutting-edge, applied book highlights the relevance of sociology by including a diverse collection of theories, research, and "lived experiences" that accurately mirror the diversity in society itself. The author's vivid, applied, personal writing style engages students, and activates compelling everyday examples that make sociology particularly relevant to today's diverse students. SOCIOLOGY IN OUR TIMES is noted for its especially strong integration of engaging "Lived Experiences" - extended examples that focus on various issues to illustrate chapter coverage. These extended examples are introduced with the vignette that opens each chapter and are then carried throughout the chapter in various boxes, features, and exercises. Kendall's text is acclaimed in the field for being the first textbook to integrate race, class, and gender issues, and for its thorough presentation of sociological theory, which includes diverse theoretical viewpoints such as feminist and postmodernist theory. Kendall shows students that sociology involves important questions and issues that they confront both personally and vicariously.

Benefits:

NEW! Based on feedback from reviewers and adopters alike, Diana Kendall has switched the stratification chapters so that "Social Class in the United States" (Chapter 8) now appears before "Global Stratification" (Chapter 9).

The text includes thorough coverage of sociological theory, including diverse theoretical viewpoints such as feminist and postmodernist theory.

The Lived Experiences combined with such features as the "Sociology and Everyday Life" and "You Can Make a Difference" boxes focus students' attention on various social issues in a highly accessible, engaging manner to illustrate concepts covered in the chapter and how sociology is applicable to their lives.

Concept Tables categorize or contrast the major theories on the specific topics presented in the chapter.

"Sociology in Everyday Life" boxes follow each Lived Experience opening vignette and challenge students to question many of the basic assumptions they may hold about the various facets of society by posting True/False questions with answers on the following page.

"Sociology in Global Perspective" boxes emphasize the importance of having a global perspective and help students focus on the implications of global topics such as the global reach of U.S.-based credit card companies (Chapter 1), the relationship between poverty and civil war (Chapter 9), and how transnational companies with headquarters in the United States serve as a lightning rod for worldwide reactions to U.S. government policies and to political and religious sentiment directed at the United States (Chapter 13).

"Sociology and Social Policy" boxes help students to understand the connection between sociology and social policy issues within society (for example, Chapter 16, The Ongoing Debate over School Vouchers).

"You Can Make a Difference" boxes provide concrete ideas on how students can periodically effect social change regarding the primary focus in each chapter (for example, Chapter 20, Recycling for Tomorrow).

End-of-chapter Summaries in a question-and-answer format provide a built-in review that reinforces important concepts and issues discussed in each chapter.

The most recent census data is incorporated in the text in the Census Profiles features. These features help students understand the importance of the census data.

NEW! New to this edition are the "Framing [topic] in the Media" boxes. These new boxes show how the media frames various sociological issues, with a refined take on the Changing Times: Media and Technology boxes (which the Framing boxes replace) that is more interesting and involves a more unique approach to media than that taken by other texts. In Chapter 5, for instance, a new Framing the Media box discusses how the media's portrayals of the homeless influence our understanding of the larger issues surrounding homelessness in the United States. This increased emphasis on media reflects what students are seeing around them in their everyday lives.

NEW! The Sixth Edition is now offered to students with access to SociologyNow, Thomson Wadsworth's exciting new online product that helps students succeed in your Introductory Sociology course. This unmatched resource and the text were developed in concert, to enhance one another and provide students with a seamless, integrated learning system. Throughout each chapter, students will see cross-references that direct them to the corresponding content in SociologyNow. SociologyNow provides students with a study plan based on a comprehensive assessment program, tailored to the student's individual needs. The personalized study plan provides students with a road map to interactive exercises, videos, and other resources to help them master sociology content, and maximize study time. After the study plan has been reviewed, students can then take a post-test to monitor their progress in learning the chapter concepts. Instructors are encouraged to bundle this product for their students.

NEW! New chapter opening "Lived Experiences" include how saddened a journalist was by the suicide of a person he knew, leading into the text's discussion of how sociological theories and research can help us understand topics such as the seemingly individualistic act of taking one's own life (Chapter 2, Sociological ResearchMethods) and how the use of prepackaged TV news financed by the U.S. government and not acknowledged to media audiences as being a paid advertisement intensifies the debate over the relationship between politics and the media in this country. (Chapter 14, "Politics and Government in Global Perspective").

NEW! The sixth edition includes a number of new boxes such as new "Sociology in Global Perspective" boxes in Chapters 7 "The Global Reach of Russian Organized Crime" and the new "Sociology and Social Policy" boxes in Chapters 4 and 15, "Who Should Pay for Childcare?" and "Should the U.S. Constitution be Amended to Define 'Marriage'?"

NEW! A timely subsection on the opportunities and challenges in community colleges, which highlights the issues relevant to this growing student population.

NEW! Four additional concept tables were added to the text in response to reviewers' comments. These insightful tables categorize and contrast the major theories on the specific topics presented in the chapter.

Vivid chapter opening vignettes introduce a sociological issue (e.g., credit card debt, suicide, domestic abuse) that is referred to throughout the chapter in the various features, boxes, and exercises. This extended example enables the student to truly grasp the topic being discussed and to apply the concepts within the chapter to that particular social issue.

Race, class, gender, and age are emphasized throughout the text and in pedagogical features; each chapter incorporates the most recent scholarly research, especially by women and people of color.